Combination cigarette package and lighter



April. i3, i965 D. W. coATs 3789m5 COMBINATON CIGARETTE PACKAGE AND LIGHTER Filed sept. 3o, 195s ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,173,016 CMBINATKGN CGARETTE PACKAGE AND LIGHTER Barrel W. Coats, 338 Raymond Ave., San Francisco, Filed Sept. 39, 1963, Ser. No. 312,389

1 Claim. (Cl. 20G-41.6)

This invention relates to a combination cigarette package and lighter.

The present invention provides a compact combination comprising a cigarette package and lighter. The lighter is supported on a rigid inverted U-shaped frame having depending stii legs which are adapted to extend downwardly into a cigarette package to provide means for preventing damage to the cigarettes therein. The lighter embodies a novel construction wherein its friction wheel, wick, tube and closure cap are mounted on and disposed above the frame, and its iiuid container, in the form of an elongated cylinder embodying the general shape and size of a cigarette, extends downwardly into the cigarette package. An opening in the top portion of the frame for the Withdrawal of cigarettes from the package is normally closed by a laterally swinging cover which may be conveniently adjusted to open or closed positions, The combination comprising the rigid frame with the lighter mounted thereon and the elongated iiuid container arranged in a concealed position extending into the cigarette package, provides a compact smokers accessory adapted to be conveniently carried in ones pocket.

An object of my invention is to provide a novel combination cigarette package and lighter of the kind characterized, embodying a rigid inverted U-shaped frame adapted to support a lighter in a convenient position wherein its friction wheel and associated parts are supported above the package on a pivoted cover plate which normally closes registering openings in the upper side of the frame and in the top of the package for the withdrawal of cigarettes, but which may be easily swung to an open position and then closed.

Another object of my invention is to provide a combination cigarette package and lighter including a U-shaped frame having stiffening members adapted to extend lengthwise along opposed sides of the package to prevent darnage to the cigarettes therein.

n the accompanying drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the inverted U-shaped frame and the lighter supported thereon;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken vertically through a combination cigarette package and lighter embodying my invention;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the frame and lighter, showing the closing cap in an open position and partly broken away and in section;

PIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line li-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken vertically through the closing cap and a portion of the supporting frame, showing the cap in an open position; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

The present invention is intended for use with a conventional cigarette package A of the type usually having an inner paper container 10 normally holding twenty (20) cigarettes, B, and an outer covering 11 of paper or other suitable material. Although not shown, the outer covering 11 is sometimes enclosed in cellophane or the like to prevent the cigarettes from losing their normal moisture content.

A rigid lighter supporting frame 12 embodying the present invention comprises opposed parallel legs 13, 13 adapted to extend from the top to approximately the lidld patented Apr. 13, i965 bottom of the package A along the narrower sides thereof and preferably between the inner container 1t) and the outer covering 11. The legs are approximately the width of the inner container, and the upper ends of such legs are connected to an intermediate portion or member 14 formed with narrow opposed depending side flanges 1S, 15 which extend downwardly alongside opposite sides of the outer covering 11. The Width of the side ilanges may be increased to permit suitable advertising matter to be inscribed thereon, if so desired. The intermediate member 14 is provided with an opening 15 of suitable shape and size through which the cigarettes B may be withdrawn from the package, it being desirable to tear away partially or entirely the upper sides of the inner container 10 and the outer covering 11 before the frame is mounted on the package.

The intermediate member 14 is also provided adjacent an end thereof with a substantially circular opening 17 within which the upper end of a depending cylindrical fuel container 18 is positioned, the said container being attached to the intermediate member and having an opening at its upper end and a closed lower end. The diameter and general shape of the cylindrical iiuid container 1S is approximately the same as a cigarette B, thereby making it possible by withdrawing a certain cigarette from the package and replacing it with the cylindrical container, to attach the combination frame and lighter to the package.

Snugly fitting inside the cylindrical fluid container 18, but adapted to rotate therein and to be removed therefrom, is an elongated cylindrical tube 19 which is secured at its upper end to one end of a cover plate 20, the said cover plate being of suitable size and shape to close the opening 16 in the intermediate member 14 of the inverted U-shaped frame.

Securely mounted on the cover plate 20 is a supporting structure comprising a bottom plate member 21 overlying and secured to the said cover plate and having upwardly extending opposed flanges 22 for supporting a serrated friction wheel 23, upstanding perforated flame shielding members 24 and an opstanding hinge supporting ange Z5.

The upper end of the tube 19 extends through the plate member 21 and is secured to a small metal disc 26 which overlies and is securely attached to the plate member 21. Extending downwardly through the tube 19 is a flint tube 27, which has its upper portion extending upwardly through openings in the cover plate Ztl, the plate member 21 and the disc 26. The upper end of the iiint tube 27 is secured to the disc 2.6, and its lower end extends approximately to the lower open end of the tube 19. Slidably supported inside and projecting above the iiint tube 27 and arranged in frictional engagement with the serrated periphery of the friction wheel 23 is a flint element 28 which is adapted to produce a spark when the friction wheel is suitably rotated. Urging the dint element upwardly against the friction Wheel 23 is an elongated coil compression spring 29, the lower end of which is secured to a screw 30 that adjustably engages with internal threads on the lower end of the iiint tube. The friction wheel 23 is formed at its ends with peripheral serrations 23a which make possible the convenient rotation of the wheel by a Suitable linger pressure applied in the usual manner.

An elongated wick 31 extending into the tube 19 and arranged with its upper exposed end positioned adjacent the friction wheel is adapted to supply combustible fuel from the iiuid container 18 to support a flame. The lower end of the tube 19 is open so as to allow the combustible iiuid to enter from the uid container and saturate the wick 31. Although not shown, the interior of the tube 19 is preferably packed with an absorbent material such as cotton, which, together with the Wick, absorbs the uid supplied as required to the fluid container.

Pivotally supported at its rear side on a substantially horizontal pivot pin 32 mounted on the upstandingrflange.

to bef described. 'Secured tothe bottom plate member 21 as by means of a punched out strip 34 on the said plate member is an 'upstandingspring 35 of somewhat inverted V-shape. Engaging with the spring 35 is the free end of a tongue 36, which`is secured to the rear side of the closing cap at a point adjacent the hinge means. The tongue36 and the engaged spring 35 are so arranged that when the closing cap is swungupwardly and rearwardly toward an open position, the tongue will ride on the spring toa dead center position and thereafter Yslide upwardly on the springV to a position wherein the cap is automatically Vfully opened and there held until it is swung downwardly and forwardly in the opposite direction toward its closed position. As the ca'p is swung toward its closed position, the tongue 36 rides downwardly on theV spring 35 toward and then past its dead center position to snap the cap downwardly to its fully closed position with its lower edges resting against the cover plate 20. .The for.

swinging rearwardly beyond a certain position by means of cooperating stop members or proturberances 38 extending koutwardly from the rear edges of the upstanding ange shielding lmembers 24, the said stop members being arranged to intercept and restrainbpposed, inwardly protruding flanges 39 on the rear side of the closing cap as the latter swings rearwardly to a fully open position.

The -cover plate is provided with an upwardly extending prot-uberance 40 adjacent its rear end for luse in swinging the cover plate `to an open or closed position with respect'to 'the opening vv'16.* It is to be noted that a1- though theV tube '19 'fits snugly inside the cylindrical fuel container 1'8, such vtube is adapted to turn lWithin the container when`the cover plate 20 is swung laterally in either direction toa closed or open position. Y

The lighter assembly 'may utilize either a gaseous or liquid fuel to produce a flame.

When charging Vthe lighter with a supply of combustible Huid, it is usually desirable to saturate the wick and the absorbent material in the tube 19 with the iluid, although the uid, if iirst supplied to the container 1S, will be readily absorbed by the wick and absorbent material when the tube is inserted in the container.

What I 'claim is:

A flint lighter assembly mounted on a cigaret package ofthe type having an outer container enclosing a number of cigarettes, said assemblyrcomprising an inverted substantially U-shaped lframe having laterally spaced depending parallel legs extending into the cigarette package adjacent opposite sides ofthe container and an intermediate member connected to the upper ends of the legs and overlying the Vcigarette package, theV intermediate member having an opening for the withdrawal of cigarettes from the package, an adjustable cover mounted on the intermediate member to close the opening in the intermediate member, a depending, elongated cylindrical fuel container secured to the intermediate member and extending into the cigarette package, a depending tube secured at its upper end to the coverand tting snugly in the fuel container and being rotatablerthereinV to swing the cover laterally to uncover the opening in the intermediate member to permit the withdrawal of cigarettes positioned with- Vin the package, the tube having an opening in its lower end communicating with the fuel container, spark prof ducing means mounted on the'cover, and a wick extending through the tube.

References Cited by the ExaminerV UNITED STATES, PATENTS THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

GEORGE O. RALSTON, Examiner. 

